tropical rainforests Flashcards
1
Q
where are tropical rainforests found?
A
- Central and South America
- South East Asia
- central Africa
- northern Australia
2
Q
What is the climate like?
A
refer to ecosystems
- high rainfall
- temps are high and constant throughout the year
- rainfall varies throughout the year- with a distinct wet season lasting 6 months, due to a period of intense rainfall when the equatorial low pressure area is directly overhead.
3
Q
what are the soils like?
A
- suprisingly infertile
- most nutrients are found on the surface, where dead leaves decompose rapidly in the hot and humid conditions
- many trees and plants have shallow roots to absorb these nutrients
- fungi growing on the roots transfer nutients straight from the air- good example of nutrient cycling
- heavy rainfall can quickly dissolve and carry away nutrients- this is called leaching - it leaves behind an infertile red, iron-rich soil called latosol.
4
Q
what plants and animals are there?
A
- support the largest number of species of any biome
- over half of all plant and animal species on the planet live on just 7% of the land surface
- they have a huge biodiversity, providing habitats for an enormous range of species
- brids live in the canopy (branches) feeding on nectar from flowers
- mammals, like monkeys and sloths are well adapted to living in the trees
- animals like deer and rodent live on the forest floor
5
Q
How have plants adapted to rainforests?
A
- made up of layers (page 59 diagram c)
- majority of plant and animal species are found in the canopy where there is most light
- in contrast, the forest floor is dark and a rainforest is a very fragile ecosystem
- plants and animals (biotic factors), along with fungi and bacteria on the forest floor, enjoy a close but fragile relationship with the abiotic fators such as soils, temperature and moisture.
- Small changes to biotic or abiotic factors, such as deforestation or water pollution, can have serious knock on effects on the entire ecosystem.
6
Q
Deforestation and case study
A
Read pages 60 to 67
